My 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions 2.0

The NBA Playoffs start tomorrow and most of wish the 76ers had a legitimate shot at winning it all, but we know that’s not the truth, so I decided to give you which teams I thought would win every series.

Eastern Conference

First Round

1. Chicago Bulls vs. 8. Indiana Pacers

The Bulls will win this series win ease. Derrick Rose is too good and his supporting cast is too much for the Pacers to handle. Indiana should be happy to just make the playoffs and shouldn’t expect to be in the mix long.

Prediction: Bulls 4-0

2. Miami Heat vs. 7. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers had a good season, but unfortunately for them the Heat are too good. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will create too many problems for the Sixers.

Prediction: Heat 4-2

3. Boston Celtics vs. 6. New York Knicks

The Celtics may be an old team, but they’re extremely experienced and play basketball the “right way.” The Knicks will make the series a good one, however they don’t play defense. This will be a long series, but Boston will find a way to pull it out.

Prediction: Celtics 4-3

4. Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta is an extremely overrated team who has a “superstar” that is too cool for his own good. Dwight Howard and the rest of the Magic will cruise into the second round.

Prediction: Magic 4-0

Conference Semifinals

1. Chicago Bulls vs. 4. Orlando Magic

The Bulls and Magic will be a good series to watch. The Bulls have enough size and physical players to contain Howard. They won’t be able to stop him, but they’ll be able to frustrate the best center in the game. Unfortunately for Orlando they don’t have anyone that can contain Rose. The Bulls will win the series, but it won’t be easy.

Prediction: Bulls 4-3

2. Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics

All of the Heat haters will pick the Celtics to win this series. However the Celtics took a huge step backwards when they traded Kendrick Perkins. If they still had Perkins they would win this series because he was an enforcer in the middle. The lack of Perkins, and the fact that Allen will have to guard either Wade or James is not a good thing for Boston. It will be a nail biting series, but in the end the Heat will advance.

Prediction: Heat 4-2

Conference Finals

1. Chicago Bulls vs. 2. Miami Heat

For as much as I want to put Rose and the Bulls in the NBA Finals, I can’t. I don’t care about the regular season and how much the Bulls dominated, they aren’t ready to make a championship run yet. The Heat are too talented and have two of the best players on the planet on its’ roster. The Bulls lack of a shooter will finally catch up to them and will be the reason Miami advances.

Prediction: Miami 4-2

Western Conference

1. San Antonio Spurs vs. 8. Memphis Grizzlies

I fully understand that the Spurs aren’t looking as good as they did a few months ago. They’re an aging team that is limping into the playoffs. However at the end of the day they have the most talent in this series and will find a way to get rid of the Grizzlies.

Prediction: Spurs 4-1

2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 7. New Orleans Hornets

No matter how many games the Lakers win or lose they still have the scariest lineup. They have one of the greatest players to ever play basketball, Kobe Bryant, and also one of the best coaches ever, Phil Jackson. The Hornets aren’t a good team and will not put up much of a fight.

Prediction: Lakers 4-1

3. Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers

I want to pick Portland so bad to win this series. But I tend to shy away from the teams that are everyones pick to pull of an upset. Dallas is a hungry team that has a chance to go deep in the playoffs. Dallas will win the series, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Portland pulled off the upset.

Prediction: Mavericks 4-3

4. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets

After trading Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets quickly became everyone’s darlings. They’re one of the deepest teams in the NBA, but that wont matter in this series. The Thunder have two of the best young players in the NBA, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. OKC will struggle early versus Denver, but will find a way to advance.

Prediction: Thunder 4-2

Conference Semifinals

1. San Antonio Spurs vs. 4. Oklahoma City Thunder

If the Spurs were healthy and clicking on all cylinders this series would shape out a little different. But the truth is they aren’t and the Thunder are a team on a mission. Durant and the Thunder will show how much they have matured over the season and will get by the Spurs.

Prediction: Thunder 4-2

2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 3. Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have a shot at beating the Lakers, but they don’t have enough to advance. The Lakers still have the best player in this series and know how to win. The Mavs will put up a good fight but at the end of the day L.A. will show what makes them champions.

Prediction: Lakers 4-2

Conference Finals

2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 4. Oklahoma City Thunder

This is the series we’ve all been waiting for. The Thunder were extremely close to taking out the Lakers during the 2010 playoffs and have been waiting all season to get another chance at the defending champs. Without disrespecting Bryant, the Thunder have the best player in this series. Durant has grown before our eyes and is too much for the Lakers to handle. Also the Lakers don’t have anyone that’ll be able to stop Westbrook and their chances at another three peat will come to an end.

Prediction: Thunder 4-2

NBA Finals

2. Miami Heat vs. 4. Oklahoma City Thunder

Durant vs James. Westbrook vs. Wade. Wow! OKC is a young team that has a bright future. However that doesn’t include this season. Miami was built for this series right here. Everyone wrote the Heat off too early, but at the end of the day they still had a great season. So what they didn’t win 70 games, they still showed signs of being a great team and how unstoppable they can be. Although Wade is the one everybody will expect to come up big, James will be the reason Miami wins the series. He will end all the talk about how he is a choke artist and how he isn’t clutch.

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6 thoughts on “My 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions 2.0”

Heat win the title when up to about a month ago they had NO wins against the top four teams in the NBA — lmao. Yea ok buddy, keep reppin’ your King James jersey and sneaks — the only way the Heat win the ship is if Dwyane Wade, their best player, goes ballistic.

Holy ish — and I didn’t even read what you said in the Thunder/Lakers series — lmfao!! Thunder have the best player?! LMAO! Oh jesus, you must seriously be a Lebron lover. Kobe is the best player in the league and the best player on the planet. He’s older and has molded his game much like Jordan did later in his career. The playoffs is when Kobe breaks out and shows everybody that nobody is better.

Whoa Birdo boy, slow down a minute. While I would probably giev the edge to Kobe, Kevin Durant is every bit as good a player. I do think the Thunder have a shot in the West. I agree with you, though that the Heat don’t win the East. I actually like a Bulls v. Lakers Final. Lakers win again (4-3)
Eastern Conference Final: Bulls beat the heat 4-3
Western Conference Final: Lakers Beat the Thunder 4-2

@reberson, I have no problem with durant. He’s the fifth best player in the league.

@erock — its hard to show grit when the other team gets to the foul line 39 times and you only get there 15 times. Just horrible the disparity in officiating. Like Wade’s bankshot in which he KICKED thaddeus and thad young got called for the foul, hilarious.

Sixers missing that big man in the middle who can protect the baskets and stop these penetration and alter shots.. a big man like Okafor,or a Hibbert..
Maybe the Sixers can move up in the Draft and pick-up Jajuan Johnson from Purdue or one of the Morris Boys from Kansas.